Stephens' Cur

Scenthound Group

The goals and purposes of this breed standard include: to furnish guidelines for breeders who wish to maintain the quality of their breed and to improve it; to advance this breed to a state of similarity throughout the world; and to act as a guide for judges.

Breeders and judges have the responsibility to avoid any conditions or exaggerations that are detrimental to the health, welfare, essence and soundness of this breed, and must take the responsibility to see that these are not perpetuated.

Any departure from the following should be considered a fault, and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.

History

Originally a strain of Mountain Cur, the little black dogs bred by the family of Hugh Stephens in Kentucky soon became sufficiently distinct that they were recognized as a separate breed. The Stephens’ Stock Cur excels at hunting squirrel and raccoon, but is also used in packs on mountain lion and bears.

The Stephens’ Stock Cur was recognized by UKC on November 1, 1998.

General Appearance

The Stephens’ Stock Cur is a powerful, agile tree dog of small to medium size. The body is just slightly longer than tall. Legs are long enough to allow the dog to move quickly and with agility in rough terrain. The head is broad with a moderate stop, and a muzzle slightly shorter than the length of skull. Ears are set high and drop. The tail is straight, set low, and medium in length. The coat is dense but close fitting. The Stephens’ Stock Cur should be evaluated as a working dog, and exaggerations or faults should be penalized in proportion to how much they interfere with the dog’s ability to work. Scars should neither be penalized nor regarded as proof of a dog’s working abilities.

Characteristics

The Stephens’ Stock Cur is a fast, hard hunter that carries its head high on track. Open or semi-open on track is preferred, but silent trailing is acceptable. Good changeover at the tree is preferred. The Stephens’ Stock Cur is intelligent and easily trained with strong treeing instincts on all game.

Head

The head is broad but proportionate to the size of the body. When viewed from the side, the muzzle is slightly shorter than the skull and joined by a slightly sloping stop. The planes of the skull and muzzle are parallel.

SKULL

The skull is flat and broad, tapering slightly toward the muzzle. Cheeks are muscular and prominent.

MUZZLE

The muzzle is shorter than the skull, moderately broad with a well-defined underjaw. Lips are tight with no flews, and are darkly pigmented.

TEETH

The Stephens’ Stock Cur has a complete set of evenly spaced, white teeth meeting in a scissors bite.

Disqualifications: Undershot or overshot bite.

NOSE

Nose is square with well-opened nostrils. Pigment is black.

EYES

Eyes are large in size, set wide apart, with inner and outer corners on the same horizontal line. Eye color is brown. Eye rims are tight and black.

EARS

Ears are drop, of short to medium length, wide at the base, and set high.

Neck

The neck is slightly arched, strong, very well muscled, and of moderate length. The neck gradually widens from the nape and blends smoothly into the shoulders.

Forequarters

Shoulders are well laid back. The upper arm is long and wide, and forms an apparent 90-degree angle with the shoulder blade.

FORELEGS

The forelegs are well muscled with strong bone. The elbows are set close to the body, but able to move freely in action. The pasterns are short, powerful, straight, and flexible.

Body

A properly proportioned Stephens’ Stock Cur is just slightly longer than tall. Back is broad, strong, of moderate length, and level, blending into a muscular, slightly arched loin with slight to moderate tuck up. The ribs extend well back and are well sprung out from the spine, then curving down and inward to form a deep body. The brisket extends to the elbow. Viewed from the front, the chest between the forelegs is muscular and well filled. This is a dog bred for stamina and faults should be penalized to the degree that they detract from that goal.

Hindquarters

The hindquarters are strong and muscular. The bone, angulation, and musculature of the hindquarters are in balance with the forequarters.

HIND LEGS

The stifles are well bent, and the hocks are well let down. When the dog is standing, the short, strong rear pasterns are perpendicular to the ground, and viewed from the rear, parallel to one another.

Feet

The feet are slightly oval in shape, are of moderate size, compact and well arched. Pads are large, tough, and well cushioned. Dewclaws may be removed.

Tail

The tail is set low, and of medium length.

Coat

The outer coat is short, and may be smooth or rough in texture, but not wooly. Undercoat is short, dense, and soft.

Color

Black. White markings are permissible provided the dog is not more than one-third white in color.

Disqualification: Albinism.

Height and Weight

Height for a mature Stephens’ Stock Cur ranges between 16 to 23 inches. Weight is proportionate to height and never over 55 pounds. Stephens’ Stock Curs are working dogs and should be presented in hard, muscular condition.

Gait

Stephens’ Stock Cur gait is smooth and effortless, with good reach of forequarters. Rear quarters have strong driving power, with hocks fully extending. Viewed from any position, legs turn neither in nor out, nor do feet cross or interfere with each other. As speed increases, feet tend to converge toward center line of balance.

Disqualifications

(A dog with a Disqualification must not be considered for placement in a bench show/conformation event, and must be reported to UKC.)
Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid.
Viciousness or extreme shyness.
Albinism.
Deafness.
Blindness.
Overshot bite.
Undershot bite.